Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Jeff Davis · Jan 16, 2016 · Northern San Juan

View on map

Weather

At the start of the tour, clear sky's cool temps and strong NW winds. In the late afternoon clouds covered the sky and winds decreased.

Snowpack

Eight to ten inches of very low density snow fell in the past 24 hours. Strong NW winds created stiff slabs in exposed areas, large cornices on S and SE aspects, and heavily loaded areas just below ridgelines. The new old was not bonding well to the existing surface. Due to the strength of the winds loading is lower then usual and slabs were even present below treeline in exposed areas.

Avalanche

Long running stuffs noticed from the highway on the drive to Ophir. On Sunshine in particular I saw a number of Loose Dry avalanche that release from below cliff bands. The new snow is not bonding well to the existing bed surface at this point.